Since the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the United States kicked off the global financial crisis back in 2008, house prices have been struggling. Admittedly, if you live in a swish inner-city penthouse in London, Paris, New York, or Tokyo, then you’re probably not worried – but for people who live in normal suburban homes in middle-of-the-road towns, there is still a whole lot to be concerned about.

Of course, you can find lots of tips online about how to maximize your home’s value – give it a lick of paint and tidy up the garden for a start. However, research in the UK conducted by Barclays Mortgages found that 28 percent of people would be willing to pay in excess of £3,000 more for a home that came equipped with smart technology.

Therefore, in this article we take a look at which smart technology you should install that will let you add those extra few thousand dollars onto your asking price.

Smart Water Sprinklers

A well-tended garden can make a huge difference to the “curb appeal” of your property. Sadly, not everyone is green-fingered, and even the neatest garden on the street can quickly start to resemble an overgrown forest if not looked after properly.

Research by Rachio (a sprinkler manufacturer) says installing their sprinklers will save 30 percent of outdoor water usage, with some users reporting savings of more than 65 percent.

That’s a massive selling point.

Smart Lighting

Another money saving addition to your property is smart lighting.

Energy Star claim that lighting makes up around 60 percent of your annual electric bill – about $264 in an average American home. Estimates suggest that an effective smart lighting system, which can brighten and dim lights in accordance with conditions, can save as much as 60 percent of lighting costs.

There is also the added security benefits, as a would-be buyer can control lighting when they are away from home to make it look like someone is in.

Solar Panels

Solar America estimates that the installation of solar panels can save owners more than $1,500 per year on their utility bills, while the U.S. Department of Energy found that adding solar panels could add as much as $15,000 onto your home’s value.

It’s a similar story in the UK, where government analysis showed that adding solar panels to a home would add an average of £16,000 to the value, and as much as £25,000 in the North-East.

Smart Smoke Detectors

All homes should have smoke detectors installed, but let’s be honest, they can be annoying. If you burn your toast or leave the dinner in the oven for too long they can quickly start wailing, leading many owners to disable them altogether.

Unfortunately, that’s one of the worst things you can do – a CBS news report in 2014 claimed that two thirds of all home fire fatalities occurred in residences where the smoke detectors were either missing or had been disabled.

Disabling it could also invalidate your house insurance. Insurance companies will typically drop your premiums by around 5 percent if you have a smoke detector installed, so if your property burns down and they can prove your detector was not functional, they won’t pay out.

Know Your Market

As with any form of selling, it’s important to know your market. Keep in mind that the much-discussed millennial generation are starting to enter the housing market en-mass for the first time, with the oldest members of the generation now turning 30.

This is the first generation to have grown up with computers and the Internet in their homes, they are used to interacting with technology in every facet of their lives, and look down on more analog gadgets. Smart home technology is a great way to make your house more appealing to this generation.

On the other hand, it could potentially make it less appealing to older, more technology-adverse generations. The aforementioned Barclays survey also found that 58 percent of people said smart home networks could enable burglars to find where there is no one in the house.

Dan is a British expat living in Mexico. He is currently the Social Editor for MakeUseOf. He was formerly the Creative Editor and Finance Editor. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Consultant. He holds various certifications from the University of Leeds, the University of Cambridge, and the…